Trypan Blue

Trypan Blue is a hydrophilic dye for assessing cell viability, selectively staining dead cells blue while live cells remain transparent for rapid eval.

Trypan blue is an azo-based, hydrophilic acidic dye commonly used for routine assessment of cell viability. It selectively penetrates the compromised cell membranes of dead or dying cells, staining them blue, while viable cells with intact membranes exclude the dye and remain transparent. This clear color distinction allows rapid differentiation between live and dead cells. Prior to staining, cells should be thoroughly washed with saline buffer or serum-free medium, as residual serum proteins can bind trypan blue and cause increased background staining. This product is cell culture–grade and is primarily used for determining the viability of tissue-isolated and primary cells. The staining procedure is simple and rapid, requiring only 3–5 minutes, and results can be easily evaluated using a hemocytometer, making it a commonly used method in cell biology laboratories.

Trypan blue is a dye used for staining dead cells blue in cell viability assays and as a surgical aid in eye operations to highlight structures like the retinal membrane and lens capsule. In addition to viability assessment, trypan blue can bind to proteins such as collagen and amyloid, forming complexes that emit red fluorescence. At appropriate concentrations, it is also used to quench cell surface autofluorescence or unwanted fluorescent signals in imaging applications.